Bob joins an illustrious list of past recipients including: Judy Walsh, former Texas Public Utility Commission (PUCT) Commissioner (2014), John Stauffacher, former GCPA Executive Director (2013); Mike Greene, former Vice Chairman of Energy Future Holdings (2012); Marianne Carroll, Partner at the law firm of Brown McCarroll (2011); Trudy Harper, President of Tenaska Power Services (2010); Jess Totten, Director of Competitive Markets at the PUCT (2009); F. John Meyer, former Vice President of Regulatory & Transmission Services for Reliant Energy (2008); Sam Jones, former CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) (2007); and Pat Wood III, former PUCT and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman (2006). The award is named for Wood who will assist in presenting the award during a luncheon on April 1st at GCPA’s 29th Annual Spring Conference in Houston, Texas.
Bob Webb is an attorney and counselor who has focused on independent energy production, gas and electric transmission, new energy technology and competitive energy markets for over 40 years. Bob has also served as an expert consultant and witness in disputes involving energy projects and contracts. He is currently Chief Legal Counsel to White Camp Solar, LLC, a developer of solar generation projects.
GCPA Board member Tom Anson noted how Bob handled with great aplomb the very difficult Houston Lighting and Power Company rate cases in which the South Texas Nuclear Project was the central issue. “I have watched him move from that controversial arena into the challenging arena of alternative power including renewables. He has always been able to handle any matter, legal or otherwise, with grace and wit. I am so very pleased that his long and valuable service to the power industry is being recognized by this year’s Pat Wood Power Star Award.”
A graduate of Amherst College with a degree in economics, Bob obtained his law degree from Yale Law School. His interest has always been the economic regulation of traditional electric, gas and telephone utilities and the dynamic tension between regulation and free markets. He spent 19 years at the law firm of Baker Botts before starting his own business in 1989. His law practice has centered upon the regulation of public utilities, energy law, and environmental law, and, more recently, the emergence of alternative energy resources, including biodiesel, biomass, solar and wind power.
For 23 years Bob taught courses on various aspects of energy regulation at the law schools of the University of Houston and the University of Texas. He has twice served as Chair of the Public Utility Section of the State Bar of Texas and has been active in various sections of the American Bar Association. He served as president of the Texas Renewable Electric Industries Association (TREIA) from mid-2007 through 2009. Bob has authored many articles and papers on energy topics and has addressed regulatory issues on numerous occasions.
In 1993 he founded Gulf Coast Power Connect, Inc. to use the potential of competitive electric transmission lines to allow industrial clients to utilize their self-generation at more than one site. In 1997 he co-founded Power Choice, Inc., a licensed power marketer that worked to break down legal and political barriers to free markets for electricity. Projects of Power Choice included forming competitive electric distribution utilities, developing distributed generation and fostering technologies for customer control of energy options. Once Texas achieved competitive wholesale and retail electric markets within ERCOT, Power Choice changed its name to Texas Energy Innovation, Inc. The company now fosters the development of energy alternatives, including demand management and renewable energy facilities. Bob also served as advisor and counsel to Proven Concepts, Inc. on well audits and gas production issues with gathering and pipeline companies. Since 2007 Bob has served on advisory board of Power Across Texas, a non-profit organization promoting education on energy issues facing Texas and promoting tools for the objective evaluation of energy alternatives.
“It was an easy decision for the Board to select Bob Webb for this award,” said Kenan Ögelman, President of the GCPA Board of Directors. “Throughout his career, Bob has been an important participant in the ongoing evolution of electric markets and in raising the awareness of renewable energy.”
Mr. Webb continues to practice law before state and federal regulatory bodies and appellate courts. In addition, he serves as an advisory director of Texoga Technologies, Inc., a biofuels company.